Display rack



Patented Dec. .13, 1932 PATENT OFFICE THEODORE H. OTTO, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK DISPLAY RACK Application filed June 9,

This invention relates to display racks and particularly to devices of this class upon which large quantities of merchandise may be stored in a minimum amount of space and in compact relationship, and yet readily exposed for display or removal from the rack; and the object of the invention is to provide a rack of the class described involving a freely swinging frame in which is supported a plurality of article supporting leaves or panels, said leaves or panels being pivotally mounted in connection with the frame to permit independent and collective movement of said panels in and with the frame; a further object being to providemeans involving a supplemental frame for bracing the panels in the first named frame; a further object being to provide means for maintaining the panels in spaced relation with respect to each other when in closed position; a still further object being to provide means on predetermined panels for causing the swinging movement of the frame in the operation of swinging such panels; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a device of the class. and for the purpose specifled, which is simple in construction, eflicient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are desig-' nated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a face view of a rack made according to my invention with parts of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig; 2 is a side view of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, indicating certain parts in a. different position, in dot and dash lines; and,

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown one method'of carrying my invention into effect which consists in providing a main frame consisting of topand bottom plates 11 and 12 of substantially triangular form, each having a forwardly extending bearing 1932. Serial No. 616,167.

part 13, note Fig. 3, for receiving the top and bottom pivots 14 and 15 of the main frame. The pivot 15 is supported upon the floor or other surface 16, and includes a ball bearing 17 to provide free and easy movement of the frame. The pivot 14 is mounted in connection with two brace arms 18 and 19 secured to a wall or other support 20, the arm 19 being disposed angularly with respect to the arm 18, thus preventing any possible movement of the pivot 14 out of alinement with the pivot 15. The frame plates 11 and 12 are joined together at opposite sides of the pivot by spacing and coupling rods 21.

Pivotally supported in the plates 11 and 12, in the construction shown, are three leaves or panels 22, 22a and 22?), all of which are of the same general construction, and the brief description of one will apply to all. Each of the panels 22 consist of rectangular angle iron frames 23, in which is mounted a supporting board or wall member 24, upon which are arranged a number of hooks or other supporting devices 25, a few of which are indicated in Fig. 2, and one of which is shown in Fig. 1. These devices are adapted to support articles of various kinds and 7 classes, such for example, as rings 26 or gaskets 27, asindicated in Fig. 2. At this time, it will be understood that the hooks or other supporting devices will be arranged over the entire area of the panel and on both sides thereof so that large quantities of arti cles'of a kind or of various kinds and classes may be supported in connection with said panels. The lower pivot of each panel includes a ball bearing 28 to provide free and easy swinging movement of the panels in the frame or the plates 11 and 12 thereof. The panels 22 and 22a are provided at the 90 upper front corner portions thereof and on the right side faces thereof as seen in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing with outwardly extending spacing arms. 29, carrying rollers 30 at their free ends to engage the opposed faces of the adjacent panels 22a22b respectively, to maintain said panels in different spaced relation with each other when the panelsare moved into closed position, and similar spacing arms -31 are arranged adjacent the inner and upper corner portions of the panels 22, 22a, the arms 31 also aiding in the swinging movement of the frame 10 in the operation of swinging the panels 22 and 22a. The panel 225 carries on its pivoted side a projecting finger 32 adapted to engage the adjacent brace rod 21 of the frame so as to swing the frame into closed position in the movement of the panel 22?) from right to left. A stop device 33 including a roller 3% is supported in connection with the wall 20 and limits the movement of the panel toward said wall when the rack is in closed position as inclicated in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 3.

Supported in connection with a plate 35 arranged above the frame 10 is a supple- .mental frame plate 36 of the same contour as the plates 11 and 12 and in vertical alinement therewith. The frame plate 36 is pivotally mounted in connection with the support 35 on a pivot 37 disposed directly above the pivots 14 and 15 of the main frame, and preferably having a ball bearing mounting as indicated at 38, note Fig. 2, to provide free and easy movement of the frame 36. Pivotally supported in connection with the plate 36 are three brace rods 39, 39a and 39?) the pivots of which are disposed directly above the pivots of the panels 22, 22a and 22b respectively. These rods extend downwardly and are'attached to the front upper corner portions of said panels as indicated at 40, note Fig. 2. so as to brace and support the outer ends of said panels and to prevent the sagging thereof on their pivots in the main frame.

It will be understood that my invention is not limited to the use of three panels, as two or more of such panels may be employed, depending entirely upon the nature of the merchandise supported thereon and the amount of space allotted to the supporting of the rack upon a floor, counter or in or adjacent a cabinet of any kind or class. In this connection, it will also be understood that one continuous pivot may be employed for the main and supplemental frames, especially when two, four, or any even number of panels are employed. It will also be understood that in supporting light merchandise upon the panels it is not absolutely essential to use the supplemental frame and thebrace rods, as these elements are only necessary when heavy merchandise such as metal ware is supported upon the panels.

One practical use to which my invention is adaptable is in supporting piston rings, gaskets, washers, springs, nuts and other sim lar hardware or accessories in the automotive industry or similar hardware in other industries, and at the same time it will be understood that the rack may be used in any of the many other industries for storing and displaying merchandise of various kinds and classes, such for example as post cards, pictures, bracelet-s, beads, ewelry, paint brushes and unlimited other articles that can be dis played by hanging or mounting in connection with the panels. Tacks or other means may be employed to support the articles, as will be apparent, or the panels may consist of an openwork or mesh body facilitating themounting of articles in connection therewith.

In the use of the device, it will be understood that the panel 227) is free to swing on its pivot through an are greater than 180 without imparting rotary movement to the frame 10, whereas the swinging movement of the panel 221 to the right will cause the frame 10 to be rotated, and this also applies to the panel 22-. But when the frame 10 is moved on its pivot in the manner shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3, it will be understood that the panels 22 and 2254 will be capable of independent swinging movement on said pivots with respect to the frame so as to display the merchandise arranged on both side faces of said panels as well as the panel 22?). But at no time, regardless of the position of the frame 10, can the several panels approach each other closer than the spaced relationship wh ch is fixed by the spacing arms 29 and rollers 30. During the swinging movement of the several panels, it will be understood that the brace rods 39, 39a and 3% swing with said panels so to maintain the same in supported and braced condition at all times and in the several positions thereof.

It will be understood that while I have shown certain details of construction for carrying my invention into effect, that I am not necessarily limited thereto, and various changes in and modifications of the construction herein shown and described may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A. rack of the class described comprising a frame consisting of vertically spaced plates, a plurality of panels disposed between and pivotally mounted in connection with said plates to permit independent swinging movement of the panels in said frame, means on one panel cooperating with an adjacent panel for maintaining said panels in definitely spaced relation with respect to each other when in closed position, means whereby articles of various kinds and classes may be supported in connection with said panels to be visible at both side faces thereof, and means for pivotally mounting the frame to permit collective swinging movement of said panels with the frame.

2. A rackof the class described comprising a frame consisting of vertically spaced'plates, a plurality of panels disposed between and pivotally mounted 'in connection with said plates to permit independent swinging movement of the panels in said frame, means on one panel cooperating with an adjacent panel for maintaining said panels in definitely spaced relation with respect to each other when in closed position, means whereby articles of various kinds and classes may be supported in connection with said panels to be visible at both side faces thereof, means for pivotally mounting the frame to permit collective swinging movement of said panels with the frame, and means independent of said frame for bracing said panels in the several positions thereof.

3. A rack of the class described comprising a frame consist-ing of vertically spaced plates, a plurality of panels disposed between and pivotally mounted in connection with said plates to permit independentswinging movement of the panels in said frame, means on one panel cooperating with an adjacent panel for maintaining said panels in definitely spaced relation with respect to each other when in closed position, means whereby articles of various kinds and classes may be'supported in connection with said panels to be visible at both side faces thereof, means for pivotally mounting the frame to permit collective swinging movement of said panels with the frame, means independent of said frame for bracing said panels in the several positions thereof, and means on one of said panels engaging said frame to cause swinging movement to the frame in the swinging movement of said panel.

4:. A rack of the class described comprising a vertical frame consisting of top and bottom supporting plates and spacing and coupling rods disposed between said plates, a plurality of vertical panels, means at the inner edges of said panels for pivotally supporting the same in connection with the top and bottom plates of said frame to provide free swinging movement of the panels in the frame with the major part of the panels projecting therefrom, and means on one panel cooperating with an adjacent panel for maintaining said panels in predetermined spaced relation with respect to each other when the panels are in closed position.

5. A rack of the class described comprising a vertical frame consisting of top and bottom supporting plates and spacing and coupling rods disposed between said plates, a plurality of vertical panels, means at the inner edges of said panels for pivotally supporting the same in connection with the top and bottom plates of said frame to provide free swinging movement of the panels in the frame with the major part of the panels projecting therefrom, means on one panel cooperating with an adjacent panel for 1naintaining said panels in predetermined spaced relation with respect to each other when the panels are in closed. position, and means for pivotally mounting the frame in connection with a suitable support to provide collective swinging movement of said panels in addition to the independent swinging movement thereof in said frame.

6. A rack ofthe class described comprising a vertical frame consisting of top and bottom supporting plates and spacing and coupling rods disposed between said plates, a plurality of vertical panels, means at the inner edges of said panels for pivotally supporting the same in connection with the top and bottom plates of said frame to provide free swinging movement of the panels in the frame with the major part of the panels projecting therefrom, means on one panel cooperating with an adjacent panel for maintaining said panels in predetermined spaced relation with respect to each other when the panels are in closed position, means for pivot.- ally mounting the frame in connection with a suitable support to provide collective, swinging movement of said panels in addition to the independent swinging movement thereof in said frame, each of said panels comprising a border frame, and an article supporting body within said border frame upon which articles may be supported for display on both side faces of said panels.

7. A rack of the class described comprising a vertical frame consisting of top and bottom supporting plates and spacing and coupling rods disposed between said plates, a plurality of vertical panels, means at the inner edges ofsaid panels for pivotally supporting the same in connection with the top and bottom plates of said frame to provide free swinging movement of the panels in the frame with the major part of the panels projecting therefrom, means on one panel cooperating with an adjacent panel for maintaining said panels in predetermined spaced relation with respect to each other when the panels are in closed position, means for pivotally mounting the frame in connection with a suitable support to provide collective, swinging movement of said panels in addition to the independent swinging movement thereof in said frame, each of said panels comprising a border frame and an article supporting body within said border frame upon which articles may be supported for display on both side faces of said panels, and brace rods coupled with the front upper corner portions 'and bottom plates of said frame to provide free swinging movement of the panels in the frame with the major part of the panels projecting therefrom, means on one panel cooperating with an adjacent panel for maintaining said panels in predetermined spaced relation with respect to each other when the panels are in closed position, means for pivotally mounting the frame in connection with a suitable support to provide collective, swinging movement of said panels in addition to the independent swinging movement thereof in said frame, each of said panels comprising a border frame and an article supporting body within said border frame upon which articles may be supported. for display on both side faces of said panels, brace rods coupled with the front upper corner portions of said panels and movable therewith for supporting said panels in the several positions thereof, and said brace rods being mounted in connection with a supplemental pivotal frame arranged above the first named frame.

9. A rack of the class described comprising a vertical frame consisting of top and bottom supporting plates and spacing and coupling rods disposed between said plates, a plurality of vertical panels, means at the inner edges of said panels for pivotally supporting the same in connection with the top and bottom plates of said frame to provide free swinging movement of the panels in the frame with the major part of the panels pro jecting therefrom, means on one panel cooperating with an adjacent panel for maintaining said panels in predetermined spaced relation with respect to each other when the panels are in closed position, means for pivotally mounting the frame in connection with a suitable support to provide collective, swinging movement of said panels in addition to the independent swinging movement thereof in said frame, each of said panels comprising a border frame and an article supporting body within said border frame upon which articles may be supported for display onboth side faces of said panels, brace rods coupled withthe front upper corner portions of said panels and movable therewith for supporting said panels in the several positions thereof, said brace rods being mounted in connection with a supplemental pivotal frame arranged above the first named frame, and the pivotal mounting of the panels in the first named frame including ball bearings.

10. A rack of the class described comprising a vertical frame consisting of top and free swinging movement of the panels in the frame with the major part of the panels projecting therefrom, means on one panel cooperating with an adjacent panel for maintaining said panels in predetermined spaced relation with respect to each other when the panels are in closed position, means for pivotally mounting the frame in connection with a suitable support to provide collective, swinging movement of said panels in addition to the independent swinging movement thereof in said frame, each of said panels comprising a border frame and an article supporting body within said border frame upon which articles may be supported for display on both side faces of said panels, brace rods coupled with the front upper corner portions of said panels and movable therewith for supporting said panels in the several positions thereof, said brace rods being mounted in connection with a supplemental pivotal frame arranged above the first named frame, the pivotal mounting of the panels in the first named frame including ball bearings, and the pivot of the main frame including an anti-frictional bearing.

11. A rack of the class described comprising a vertical frame consisting of top and bottom supporting plates and spacing and cou' pling rods disposed between said plates, a plurality of vertical panels, means at the inner edges of said panels for pivotally supporting the same in connection with the top and bottom plates of said frame to provide free swinging movement of the panels in the frame with the major part of the panels projecting therefrom, means on one panel cooperating with an adjacent panel for maintaining said panels in predetermined spaced relation with respect to each other when the panels are in closed position, means for pivotally mounting the frame in connection with a suitable support to provide collective, swinging movement of said panels in addition to the independent swinging movement thereof in said frame, each of said panels comprising a border frame and an article supporting body within said border frame upon whic 1 articles may be supported for display on both side faces of said panels, brace rods coupled with the front upper corner portions of said panels and movable therewith for supporting said panels in the several posi tions thereof, said brace rods being mounted in connection with a supplemental pivotal frame arranged above the first named frame, the pivotal mounting of the panels in the first named frame including ball bearings, the pivot of the main frame including an anti-frictional bearing, and an anti-frictional bearing for the pivot of the supplemental frame.

12. A rack of the class described comprising a plurality of panels, means for pivotally supporting each of said panels to permit in dependent swinging movement thereof, means independent of said pivots for maintaining the panels in definitely spaced relation with respect to each other when the rack is in closed position, and means permitting collective movement of said panels independent of the pivots thereof.

13. A rack of the class described comprising a plurality of panels, means for pivotally supporting each of said panels to permit independent swinging movement thereof, means independent of said pivots for maintaining the panels in definitely spaced relation with respect to each other when the rack is in closed position, means permitting collective movement of said panels independent of the pivots thereof, the pivots of said panels being disposed at one side edge thereof, and means movable with the panels for reinforcing and bracing the other side edges of said panels.

14. A rack of the class described comprising a frame consisting of vertically spaced 7 plates, a plurality of panels disposed between and pivotally mounted in connection with said plates to permit independent swinging movement of the panels in said frame, means on one panel cooperating with an adjacent panel for maintaining said panels in definitely spaced relation with respect to each other in the different positions thereof, and means independent of said frame for bracing said panels in the several positions of movement thereof.

15. A rack of the class described comprising a frame consisting of vertically spaced plates, a plurality of panels disposed between and pivotally mounted in connection with said plates to permit independent swinging movement of the panels in said frame, means on one panel cooperating with an adjacent panel for maintaining said panels in definite- 1y spaced relation with respect to each other in the different positions thereof, means independent of said frame for bracing said panels in the several positions of movement thereof, and means for pivotally mounting said frame and last named means to permit collective swinging movement of the panels with the frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this 6th day of June, 1932.

THEODORE I-I. OTTO. 

